By Todd Lounsbury
Kadillac is one of 9 Thoroughbreds adopted out by Days End in
2010. In researching his tattoo through The Jockey Club, his adopter
Todd discovered that his “GreatGrandfather was Bold Ruler--ring a
bell? Secretariat's Dad.”
Our family was first introduced to Days End at the summer festival in June 2009. Prior to that we had been monetary contributors to the farm but had not yet visited.
In looking around the farm, we noticed two horses kept together who had been taken in just three weeks before—Lexus and Kadillac. They were being kept in an isolated pen as they had recently arrived. Kadillac’s Henneke Body Condition Scale was a 2 if I remember correctly, and he looked severely neglected. His hoof condition was atrocious.
Kadillac was especially friendly and seemed to want the attention of anyone who would give it to him. He was calm around smaller visitors, which impressed me about his demeanor.
We kept tabs on his rehabilitation progress through the summer. By November, we started to investigate the possibility of adopting him and contacted Sara to arrange a time to see him and maybe sneak a ride in.
It was a cold day and the ground was partially frozen. We all noticed that he was very tentative on his front feet in the ring. Since he had severe neglect of his hooves, we hoped as they continued to grow out, his hoof wall would strengthen and he would lose his sensitivity. His demeanor impressed me again. As we were talking with Sara about his feet and other issues discovered during his rehabilitation, Kadillac stood there looking at who was speaking and seemed to be including himself in the conversation. He definitely had personality.
We visited him again at the Maryland Equestrian Show in Timonium
in January 2010 where he was featured as a demo horse in an
educational session about foot and leg care. His demeanor remained
as we had seen him before—very cooperative and interested in the
goings on.
After two more introduction sessions, we signed paperwork for his adoption. Our two kids love to visit him and feed him lots of carrot treats. Kadillac obliges the attention and is very patient with two new riders learning the ropes.
He was chosen to be photographed last fall as part of the Days End calendar. He was quite the ham for the photographer. You can see him as Mr. August 2011.
It was always a mystery to us in finding out who is was in his prior life. He did have a lip tattoo, and launching a research through the Jockey Club yielded a match. We were ecstatic and dug further to find out his pedigree.
His official name is “Before the War.” He was born on Wimborne Farm, Kentucky, on May 2, 1993. He racing career spanned 11 races between 1996 and 1998, and he won two races, including his first win at Churchill Downs. His total career winnings were just over $43,000.
Kadillac was sired by Lord at War; his dam was Bold Shout. Through his mother’s side, he is great grandson of Bold Ruler, the sire of numerous champions, including Secretariat, Ruffian and Seattle Slew!
He happily resides with three other horses at the Grey’s Farm in Pasadena where he is boarded. He loves to take baths and always will oblige in having a carrot or two fed to him.
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